by M A Bernier
“Something is being revealed to us.” Replied Ardant. “Look at the temple in the desert.” Ardant pointed at the mountain that contained the temple of Katanz. The noonday sun glared brightly off the temple at the top of the mountain. Not far from the mountain the ground seemed to move in the direction of the temple. As Ardant and the demons watched an army led by Eryyn and the other mages and dragons advanced quickly. From the temple red and gray smoke poured forth from every crevice and formed together in front of the temple into a demonic shaped figure five times larger than the demons Ardant stood with, it was Katanz. The red and gray smoke continued to billow and twist around the four-armed, double-winged demon. The dragons in flight began by casting fire at Katanz but, the fire had little effect against him. In the desert near Katanz Ardant watched as an area of the ground almost twice as large as Katanz moved and swelled. A human shaped figure made of vines, branches, trees and rocks burst forth taking Katanz by surprise. It struck him and Katanz was thrown hundreds of yards. Katanz had barely stood as Eryyn and the other mages joined in with an attack of their own. For a moment it seemed the demon was struggling as he held two of his arms in the direction of the arm to create an invisible shield to stop the attack. He raised his other two arms in the direction of the living creature Ardant knew was an extension of EverGreen. From Katanz’s two hands red and black flames burst forth and engulfed EverGreen’s avatar, it was consumed in seconds. Katanz did not stop the flame but instead swung both hands towards Eryyn’s army. Every mage tried to raise a shield to protect themselves only to have it shatter and they two were engulfed. Ardant could see only one figure standing untouched but struggling desperately within the flames now coming from all four of the demons' hands. Katanz advanced on Eryyn unleashing flames of black from his eyes, Eryyn’s shield burst then he too turned to ash in seconds.
Ardant lowered his hand that had been pointing at the five demons as he realized he was back in the desert in his own time. The power emanating outward from him retreated until it circled only around him.
“You know you cannot destroy us now.” Shadow stepped closer to Ardant. “You need us alive, all of us. And you cannot send us back to that place where you cannot go or summon us from.”
“I have no choice.” Ardant replied. “To allow you to roam free would mean a war which would consume this world. In the end I and my friends might still lose.”
“We promise not to hurt any of you.” Fire stepped forth and spoke but his words were dripping with lies and deceit.
“Your words are lies and there is no vow you can give that mortals can trust.” Ardant said.
“If we had a soul we would swear upon it.” Fire continued to mock Ardant. When Ardant smiled at him Fire became confused, why was this mortal smiling as if he held the demon's soul with his hands.
“I accept!” Ardant held out his hand. Suddenly each of the demons doubled over in pain clutching their chests. A small black portion of their twisted essence burst forth, Ardant collected them in his hand. The tiny spheres of black twisted and merged with his hand fading from site, Ardant lowered his hand. “Leave this place until you are summoned.” The five demons were recovering and standing again. The Demon Wind looked at Fire, his face was full of fury and nearly uncontrolled rage.
“COME FORTH EVERGREEN!” Wind bellowed into the air around him. Beside Ardant the sand shifted slightly as vines emerged and stretched as tall as Ardant. More vines grew forth from the sand and formed the shape of a person slightly smaller than Ardant. Wind stepped closer to EverGreen’s Avatar. “When our task is complete and we are released we will unleash havoc upon your world.” The avatar’s arms rose up as if stretching from a long nap, and the face yawned. Wind and the other demons unfurled their wings and flew into the air leaving Ardant and the others behind. EverGreen’s avatar flowed out of sight back into the sand. The DragonStone hovered in front of EverGreen then faded from site.
Eryyn walked forward once the DragonStone left, the choice had been made. Before he and the others reached Ardant he turned to them, took a deep breath then collapsed face first in the sand before him. Eryyn rushed to Ardant turning him over, he looked exhausted. As he helped him up Ardant looked at him and spoke. “Remind me next time to keep my big mouth shut.” Then he fell asleep.
Eryyn sat next to his wife’s bed and watched as her eyes fluttered open for the first time in days. He had been able to force most of the poison from her body, but his encounter with Jyn-Taa had not allowed him to complete the process. Syl had explained Alys had begun to succumb to the poison once again until Jaymee used every bit of final strength he had left to heal her.
“Hi.” He said as he gently stroked her face.
“Jaymee?” She said weakly trying to sit up in bed. Too weak to raise herself, she leaned back into the pillows and closed her eyes for a few moments.
“He is in the next room wrapped in EverGreen’s healing vines.” Alys motioned for the glass of water beside the bed. Eryyn helped her take a sip so that she could speak.
“He was too weak. He should not have helped me.” Alys looked at Eryyn and tears were forming in her eyes. “He isn’t going to make it is he?” She saw the pain and uncertainty in her husband’s eyes.
“I don’t know.” Eryyn took her hand in his and held it tight.
“Why can’t EverGreen help him like you? You were almost dead when he saved you all those years ago.”
“EverGreen said what happened to Jaymee is different than what I went through. He and everyone else does not have the ability to tap into the Rootsource like I do.” Eryyn could see Alys’s next question behind her eyes. “If I could have, I would have gone to the Rootsource and tapped into it directly to help Jaymee. Taking back the dark part of my soul, which was Jyn-Taa, was very difficult and very dangerous. I am still feeling the effects and while he was no longer a part of me the darkness grew a hundred fold. If go to the Rootsource now I could destroy us all if the darkness should overcome my reasoning.”
“I understand.” Said Alys. “But why did he do it? He must have known it could kill him?”
“He lost a mother and father once before, I of all people know what that is like. He could not let that happen again, no matter what the cost he paid. As far as he is concerned you and I are as much his mother and father as his natural parents were. The bond he feels for us is even stronger not because he loved his parents less than us, but because for him he has been given a second chance for a family.” Alys looked around the room.
“I suppose Cadan has not left his side.”
“He insisted Jaymee should be healed in his own room where he could watch over him. The moment Jaymee was brought home by EverGreen Cadan has been in his room almost constantly. He comes in to visit you as well, but always goes to his big brother room to eat or sleep. He even moved his bed as close as he could get to Jaymee’s. EverGreen made sure the vines left his face and a hand visible, Cadan is often sleeping with his hand in Jaymee’s.” The door to their room opened and a half-stumbling, tired eyed little boy came walking in. The moment he saw his mother’s eyes opened his face began to shine like the morning sun. He ran and leaped into his mother’s bed and hugged her tightly.
“I love you mother.” Alys could not crying for joy at the loveliest words and the sound of his voice. Cadan looked up and saw her tears. “Don’t cry, Jaymee will be all right too, you will see.”
“I am also crying because I am glad to see you Cadan.” She replied. His little face scrunched up in confusion.
“Adults are so confusing.” Cadan said and sighed.
“And just how do you know Jaymee will be OK?” Alys motioned for Eryyn to help her sit up a bit more in her bed. She took Cadan and cradled him in her arms.
“Because it’s getting easier to find him, but only a little bit at a time.” Cadan sighed and Alys looked at Eryyn.
“I think I know what me means. You know he can sense thoughts and someone’s consciousness.” Alys nodded. She knew Eryyn was teach
ing his son to use his gifts more and more each year. “He can sense Jaymee’s thoughts, and if it's getting easier for him to do so, I take that as a good sign that Jaymee is coming back to us even if it takes a while.” Alys sighed deeply.
“It’s OK.” Replied Cadan to her as he looked up at her. “Katanz won’t be here for long time. Not till I’m older.” Cadan saw the look on his mother and fathers face and looked as he had done something wrong. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it, you were loud when you were thinking.”
“Cadan, it's all right.” Alys hugged him tighter.
“Cadan.” Eryyn took his son and set him in his lap. “Katanz is very, very dangerous. Promise me you won’t try to find him. Your mother and I may not be able to protect you from him Cadan.”
“I can’t help it. He’s so mad he’s shouting at the moment.” As Cadan sat in his lap Eryyn held him tightly. Alys reached over and put a hand on Eryyn’s knee to silently acknowledge the fear they both felt. Katanz was one of the elder demons. Eryyn and the others were going to need the help including the elemental demons released from their prison. Even with those demons it would still not be enough so Vuuaan, out of the necessity of wanting to preserve his own freedom, went looking for his mother the Witch Goddess Vamira. Eryyn and the others knew the only reason these creatures of darkness and evil would help him and the others was because Katanz, in his blind anger, would destroy them all for defiling his temple.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Alliance
It had been over a month since the encounter with Jyn-Taa and the demons’ agreement with Ardant. They retreated to the Ravage Islands far south where no travelers dared go due to the extremely unpredictable weather patterns. EverGreen had confirmed the islands were not inhabited, not that they could be since they were over ninety percent rock. The Ravage Islands were, in themselves, the equivalent of a small continent. A few of the islands had active volcanoes that erupted from time to time and would suit the Demon Fire. All the islands had an abundance of mountains and large gaping crevices in the land to satisfy Wind. The Demon Earth, actually more like rock, found the islands satisfactory. So did Water as he explored the many twisting and winding currents within and between the islands. Shadow found any number of caves where he could hide in solitude from the others. One week after their departure Eryyn merged again with the ground and then with the water and made his way to the Ravage Islands to speak with the demons. When he merged with the land it was not like EverGreen, he was not a protector or linked to it he could just his body to become an element with limited abilities. Eryyn slid through the water creating a rippling effect and startling much of the marine life as he passed over and through them as water. He could move as swiftly or as slowly as he desired. He was not fond of being away from Jaymee while he healed so his trip to the Ravage Islands took less than an hour. He reached the islands forming from water onto the land where Shadow was waiting for him. Eryyn created a large rocky chair with no effort from the rocks around him and sat within while Shadow summoned the others who arrived within moments by land, air and foot. Once the others were present Eryyn stood from the chair that slid silently back into the ground.
Eryyn addressed the demons looking at them one by one in the eye. He wanted to make sure each one of them understood he had no intentions of being subordinate to them. They were in his world and his power could overcome theirs. These demons were not like the one his past enemy Lysithia had summoned, that demon was so deadly Eryyn would never have been able to defeat it even with help. The elemental demons were not of the same caliber as Katanz and they knew it and hated it. To have a mortal even dare to defy them nearly drove them internally mad. Eryyn was not someone they had expected or ever encountered before. They had learned of Eryyn from the dark portion of the soul that had been taken from him. He was a threat they intended on dealing with by using Jyn-Taa and order of Katanz in union with their own power. Jyn-Taa had done the unexpected and found the remains of Vuuaan and freed him. Had they known Vuuaan was transferring some of his essence to Jyn-Taa, therefore making him mortal and not dependent on the demons, they would have planned his end more quickly. Instead, what the demons feared, Eryyn had taken back his soul and with it he had absorbed the knowledge that Jyn-Taa had gained, his power from the demons and the power of Vuuaan. Even if Eryyn had not taken Jyn-Taa back and allowed his soul to face the void he was a deadly threat having harnessed the power of the Rootsource. However, with the new power he possessed Eryyn was an even greater threat to their power. They suspected even he could now send them back to the under-realm through the gateway that would lock them in the underworld possibly forever. Shadow and the others only hope now was the coming confrontation with Katanz. None on this world could stand alone against the Elder Demon. When that confrontation came and Katanz was driven to the under-realm Eryyn would be weak and they would have their second chance to be rid of him. Dealing with Evergreen may take longer than they wished but it could be done and the elemental demons would once again reign unchallenged on this world. Had they chosen to kill him the only vulnerable time was when he took back the dark part of his soul. That moment had been robbed from them while they faced Ardant and the choice he had to make.
“I trust the islands are satisfactory.” Eryyn also deliberately stood on the same ground where they stood allowing their natural size to tower over him. He wanted them to know that someone who appeared small, insignificant, and mortal, had a greater power than they did.
“It is a cage in your world, nothing more.” Replied Wind.
“If you prefer the under-realm I am sure I can arrange passage.” Eryyn stood his ground.
“You need us as much as we need you.” Replied Fire as he stepped closer. “You know as well as we that Katanz will want revenge upon all of us for what has happened to his temple and his followers.”
“It was him and his friends who destroyed the temple.” Water moved closer as he pointed to Eryyn. “We can convince Katanz that he was responsible for its destruction.”
“And what about Jyn-Taa and the followers of Katanz?” Asked Eryyn. “You cannot cast blame upon me for their enslavement. You have to blame Wind and Shadow, after all they were the architects of your escape.” Wind and Shadow cast dark glances at Water. His face betrayed the smallest hint of fear and then anger boiled to the surface as he pointed on hand at Eryyn. A column of water burst forth and would have swept Eryyn into the sea had an invisible barrier not deflected it. The water at the shield started to freeze first then traveled along the column until the Demon Water was enclosed in shell of ice. Eryyn stepped to the side of the end of frozen column of water and looked over Water. “He should thaw out in a few hours.” Eryyn turned to the other demons, he could see each of them debating in their mind as they looked at one another. Could they defeat Eryyn together? “I would recommend you advise your brother the necessity of our arrangement and of patience.”
“Even with your power and that of your friends it will still not be enough to stop Katanz.” Demon Shadow took a step forward as he spoke. “My brothers and I have no followers in this realm, yet.”
“There will those who choose to worship you and come to the Ravage Islands.” Eryyn knew where the demon’s conversation was going. “There is not source of food on these islands that can sustain a significant number of followers. A form of trade will have to be formed between you and the mortals of this world, one which I will see too.” The Demon Earth snorted and huffed shaking his head. “Welcome to free world.” Eryyn paused and looked at each demon one by one. Even Water, although frozen, was fully aware of what was transpiring before him. “I know full well if and when Katanz is defeated you will once again pursue your first goal, to destroy Evergreen, myself and those who follow us. There are many who will come to this island and others who will act as they perceive is your will to subvert the world around you. This alliance, temporary and precarious, must be upheld with a great deal of effort. I will hold each of you personally responsible for t
he acts of any of your would be followers.” Eryyn lowered and spoke a bit more slowly. “Despite your nearly immortal status you too know that your lives can be ended if Katanz does in fact return and succeed in carrying out any intent he has on revenge for those who interfered with his followers.”
“Then let us make no pretense of our goals.” Demon Wind looked down at Eryyn. “Once Katanz is defeated all alliances are null and void.”
“I will remember you said that.” Eryyn replied smiling in manner that caused the demons to second-guess their decision. To confront Eryyn when the time arrived and they were released from their alliance might not be as easy as they thought and, they were beginning to realize that.
“There is a small uninhabited island halfway between here and the mainland. I believe it can be used as a place where trade can take place between us. I will personally choose those from my order to staff the island and assist your followers once the trade process begins.” He paused, waiting for any objections from the demons. “Any questions?”
“Your people will in no way hinder those who wish to follow us?” Wind responded.
“They will in no way be hindered unless the begin to cause strife or dissension, that I will not tolerate.”
“Then it is agreed.” Replied Wind as he stretched forth his large hand in a purely human response as if offering to seal the deal on a handshake.
“I will accept your word.” Eryyn said as he held up his own hand refusing to shake the demon's hand that could have wrapped itself around him since it was so large. Eryyn turned and merged once again with the sea. Only moments into the water he was already a quarter’s day distance travel when movement from his left caught his eye. He stopped and could see the Demon Water sinking into the depths, apparently his brothers were very dissatisfied with his recent actions and had cast him, while he thawed, off the island. The demon would of course be unharmed by the cold or the depth to which would sink. He smiled inwardly and continued to flow within the water until he approached the shoreline. As he watery form stretched upward from the water surface he became a mountain owl and flew the rest of the way home.